Jimmy’s POV
Jimmy stepped out of the restaurant, his hands in his pockets, strolling casually beside Garry, who seemed lost in thought. The crisp evening air brushed against his face, but his grin was anything but cold.
“Who was that woman? Do you know her?” Garry asked, his curiosity evident.
Jimmy shrugged, his grin widening. “Ah, she looked familiar, but I can’t quite place her. I’ve seen her somewhere before, I think.”
“If you don’t know her, then why are you grinning like that?” Garry raised an eyebrow, suspicion lacing his tone.
Jimmy chuckled, his arm swinging over Garry’s shoulders as he leaned closer. “Did you catch Lucian’s face when he saw her? Priceless. That expression was something else. Whatever it is, there’s definitely some history there. He’s hiding something, and you know how much I enjoy digging into things.”
Garry rubbed his chin, pretending to ponder. “Hmm, sounds like trouble brewing. But even if it’s nothing, we should keep an eye on her. You never know.”
Jimmy’s grin sharpened. “Exactly. And honestly, I don’t care what her deal is. If she’s enough to distract Lucian from Avey, then she’s already doing the job. That girl…” He spat the name through gritted teeth. “…is the last thing Lucian needs right now.”
Garry hummed noncommittally, but inwardly he was enjoying himself. Acting like he didn’t know much about the situation while secretly knowing plenty made him feel like the unsung hero of the story.
but still lucian situation indeed made him sad but he knew he can’t do much on that… just baby steps.
The moment of playful banter was interrupted by a sudden ringtone. Jimmy stopped in his tracks, his mood visibly bright from the grin that lingered on his face. He pulled out his phone, glancing briefly at the screen before answering.
“Hello?” Jimmy said casually, his voice dripping with confidence.
“Jimmy… please don’t hang up. I really need to talk to you.” A female voice came through, trembling with urgency.
Jimmy’s grin disappeared in an instant, replaced by a cold glare that seemed to freeze the air around him. His posture stiffened, his shoulders squared. The warmth he had just exuded vanished like smoke.
“No need,” he said, his tone sharp and dismissive, his grip tightening on the phone.
“It’s about Lucian. Please, Jimmy… it’s important,” the voice pleaded, the sadness in her tone unmistakable.
Jimmy inhaled sharply through his nose, his jaw clenching tightly. The knuckles gripping the phone turned white as he fought the wave of anger rising in him.
“For Lucian, then.” His words came through gritted teeth, dripping with reluctance. “Send me the location.”
The voice on the other end gave a relieved sigh before the line clicked dead. Jimmy pocketed the phone forcefully, his hands running through his hair as if trying to ground himself. His mind was a whirlwind of emotions, each one louder than the last.
“What happened?” Garry asked, genuinely concerned. Seeing Jimmy angry was rare so rare, in fact, that it almost felt unnatural.
“Nothing. Avey wants to talk about Lucian,” Jimmy muttered, trying to suppress the storm within him.
Garry’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he chose to remain silent, observing Jimmy instead.
Jimmy let out a deep, frustrated sigh. “What does she want now?” Garry finally asked after a moment of tense silence.
“I don’t know, but whatever it is, I’ll handle it. One thing’s for sure there’s no way in hell I’m letting that woman anywhere near Lucian again. She’s already done enough damage,” Jimmy growled, his teeth clenched as he fought to suppress his fury.
The memory of Lucian’s pain was too vivid, too fresh. The image of his best friend broken and defeated, drowning in despair because of Avey’s cold indifference, fueled his anger. Jimmy had sworn to himself that he wouldn’t let her hurt Lucian again not now, not ever.
His phone buzzed with a message. Jimmy glanced at the screen, noting the location she had sent. His lips curled into a grimace. “She doesn’t give up easily, huh?” he muttered, shoving the phone back into his pocket.
“How did she even get your number?” Garry asked, frowning.
Jimmy waved it off. “She’s rich. When you have money, you can find anything. It doesn’t matter.” He shook his head, muttering under his breath. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Garry followed quietly, observing the tension in Jimmy’s body. He knew how fiercely protective Jimmy was of Lucian, and seeing him this angry spoke volumes about the depth of his loyalty.
Jimmy clenched his fists as they walked toward the parking lot. For Lucian, he would face anyone even the ghosts of their shared past.
Jimmy and Garry approached the parking lot, the latter shaking his head in nostalgic amusement as Jimmy headed straight for his regular red sedan a car so ordinary, yet adored by Jimmy as if it were a prized possession.
“You have quite the taste in cars,” Garry said, chuckling softly, leaning on the door as Jimmy unlocked it. His tone was a of teasing.
Jimmy paused mid-action, slowly raising an eyebrow and fixing Garry with a mock-serious glare. “What’s wrong with my darling?” His voice carried just the faintest edge of a threat, but the dramatic delivery made it clear he was half-joking.
Garry couldn’t help but let out a laugh, trying to stifle it with a cough. “Cough… darling, huh? Man, you’re just obsessed with this beautiful fairy.”
Jimmy tilted his head slightly, feigning ignorance. “What can I say? She’s dependable, and I don’t need anything flashy.” Then, with mock grandeur, he added, “Say one more bad thing about her, Garry, and I’ll leave you stranded here.”
Garry raised his hands in mock surrender, a grin still plastered on his face. “Alright, alright! She’s perfect. A masterpiece of engineering.”
“Thought so,” Jimmy said, smirking as he slid into the driver’s seat, giving the dashboard a fond pat. “Let’s get going. Avey’s waiting i have some important things to say too anger in his eyes.”
The car roared to life not exactly a roar, more like a dignified hum, but to Jimmy, it was music. He checked his rearview mirror as Garry settled into the passenger seat. Read exclusive adventures at empire
“Still can’t believe you’d take this car out on every meeting if you could and you say you are trying yo be gangster too,” Garry said, shaking his head as Jimmy reversed out of the lot.
Jimmy’s eyes flickered with amusement. “If it’s reliable, why not? Besides, flashy cars get attention. This gets results.”
Garry smirked. “Yeah, results like never getting pulled over because the cops think it’s their grandma’s car.”
Jimmy ignored him, his focus now on the road as they navigated through the bustling city. The buildings blurred past, the hum of the sedan oddly calming in the chaos of the streets.
“So, where exactly are we headed?” Garry asked, his tone shifting to something more serious as they neared their destination.
Jimmy adjusted the GPS. “Avey sent the location. Just stay sharp.”
The banter faded as the two of them fell into a companionable silence, the weight of their task settling over them. The sedan moved steadily forward, carrying with it not just two friends, but a shared history and an unspoken bond.
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